McLain Ward and HH Azur at The Dutch Masters, where they won their second Major in a row in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.
Text © World of Showjumping
After a long and successful career, McLain Ward has announced the retirement of his top horse HH Azur (Thunder vd Zuuthoeve x Sir Lui vd Zuuthoeve, breeder Nathalie Beaufort) – who bows out of the sport at the age of 17. The news of the retirement came after the mare had jumped Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen, which would end up being her last international competition.
McLain Ward and HH Azur in their very last competition together, yesterday's Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen. Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.
With Ward in the saddle, HH Azur had prior to coming to Aachen won both the CSI5* 1.60m Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva in December 2022, as well as the CSI5* 1.60m Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters in March this year – two of the Majors in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, and two of the most prestigious Grand Prix classes in the world. With the chance to win their third Major in a row in the €1.500.000 Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen, live contenders HH Azur and Ward had the opportunity to become historical alongside Hello Sanctos and Scott Brash – the only horse-and-rider combination to have won three Majors in a row. However, the Grand Slam dream got an abrupt end as poles fell early on in Sunday’s Grand Prix course, at fence no. 2 and 3, and the American rider wisely decided to retire his long-time partner from the competition.
McLain Ward and HH Azur en route to victory in the Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters. Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.
HH Azur and Ward have a long list of top results to look back at. In 2017, they won the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in Omaha, and they were a part of the US team that took silver at the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016 where they also finished 9th individually.
In addition to her two recent Major victories, HH Azur has numerous other significant wins on her resume. In 2022, she won the CSIO5* 1.60m Tourmaline Oil Cup at the Spruce Meadows Masters, the CSI4* 1.55m Empire State Grand Prix at Old Salem Farm, as well as the CSIO4* 1.60m Grand Prix presented by JTWG, Inc. in Wellington. In 2021, she also won the CSIO5* 1.60m Tourmaline Oil Cup at the Spruce Meadows Masters, as well as the CSI3* 1.60m Grand Prix at Old Salem Farm. In 2020, she won the CSI5* 1.60m Lugano Diamonds Grand Prix in Wellington. In 2019, HH Azur took the top honours in the CSI5* 1.55m Canadian Utilities Cup at Spruce Meadows and also won the CSI4* 1.60m Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon, as well as the CSI5* 1.60m Rolex Grand Prix in Wellington. In 2017, she won the CSI5* 1.60m Suncast® Grand Prix in Wellington, while in 2016 she recorded victories in the CSI4*-W 1.60m Longines FEI World Cup™ in Toronto, in the CSIO5* 1.60m Loro Piana Grand Prix of Rome and the CSI5* 1.60m Suncast® Grand Prix in Wellington. In 2015, Azur’s biggest wins came in the CSI4*-W 1.60m Longines FEI World Cup™ in Toronto as well as in the CSI4*-W 1.60m Big Ben Challenge at the same venue.
HH Azur was also crowned 2017 USEF Horse of the Year.
McLain Ward and HH Azur in Geneva in 2022, where they won the Rolex Grand Prix. Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.
On his Facebook page, Ward wrote the following tribute to HH Azur:
"Dear Annie,
I knew this day would come but somehow you always were able to reach deep inside and achieve greatness time and time again. We all know there comes a time when your mind and body disagree but it is still hard to let go. You have given all of us so much but it’s time to say goodbye to our sport and retire in good health.
I knew from our beginning you were better than me and that it would take every bit of my ability to not let you down. Your wings carried all of us who’s lives you have touched on an incredible journey that is the epitome of why we seek such lofty goals and pursue them with such passion.
You are the very definition of a queen. It was a privilege to have been the one to ride on your wings, to be your partner and to be part of your life.
McLain
- Special thank you to Lee, Erica, Virginie, Kirstie, The Mathy family, The Harrison family and all of our incredible team.
- I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in Annie and my journey. Without each and every one of you the story we’ve written would not have been possible. I’m forever grateful for your contributions and I have no doubt Annie has touched your life in a positive way as she has everyone’s.
Happy retirement my Queen”
At World of Showjumping, we wish Annie the happiest retirement! Thank you for all the magical moments Annie; you will be missed!
Then